Jawaharlal Nehru
Planetarium
Raj Bhavan Road, Tel:
2226 6084, Web:
taralaya.org
The planetarium came
up in 1992, and is a
major draw for kids and
space buffs. On display are permanent galleries on
outer space – exhibit halls display photographs of
stars, galaxies and astronomical phenomena.
However, it is the sky theatre that is the piece de
resistance – a host of shows explaining the
mysteries of the universe are screened here. A state
of the art projector beams a life-like view of the
entire night sky across the planetarium's 15-metre
dome. The theatre can seat 225 people at one go and
there are two daily shows to choose from. Star-
gazing sessions for amateur astronomers and
educational lectures for students are also organised.
Check the daily schedule of programmes before you
head here – there are no shows on Mondays and
second Tuesdays.
Government Museum
Kasturba Road, Tel:
2286 4483, Open from
10am to 5pm, Closed on
Mondays and public
holidays
Right next door to the
science museum is the
bright red edifice of the
Government Museum.
Built in 1876 by Colonel
Sankey, this relatively
unknown museum
features an assorted
clutch of archaeological
finds, some even dating
back to the Indus Valley
Civilisation. Spread over
two exhibition floors and
eighteen galleries, the
museum covers the
domains of geology,
numismatics, sculpture
and art. Motley exhibits
from various periods in
history are on display,
from Hoysala sculptures,
Chola bronzes and
Rajasthani miniature
paintings to ivory
carvings, Vijayanagara
relics to prehistoric
artefacts from the
Neolithic period. The
p 18
whats around?
museum showcases south
Indian heritage
prominently with ancient
jewellery and textile
exhibits. The upper
galleries of the museum
are art-heavy. The
collection of rare
paintings in the Mysore
and Tanjore traditions
deserve special mention.
Venkatappa Art
Gallery
Kasturba Road, Tel:
2286 4483, Closed on
Mondays and public
holidays
Art lovers must add this
on their itineraries. This
government-owned
gallery boasts an eclectic
blend of old and new art.
Venkatappa, after whom
the gallery takes its name,
was the court painter of
the Wodeyars – the
ground floor of the gallery
is dedicated to this 19 th
century painter's works,
which are lyrical and
trippy. But things get
modernist as we move to
other rooms. Here we
encounter the art of 20 th
century masters like MF
Hussain, SG Vasudev,
Yusuf Arakkal and KK
Hebbar. While these form
the permanent displays at
the gallery, there are also
a host of contemporary
art shows that go up on
view regularly at
Venkatappa.
HAL Heritage Centre &
Aerospace Museum
HAL, Airport-Varthur
Road, Tel: 2522 8341,
Open from 9m to 5pm,
Closed on Monday
This unusual museum
showcases Indian
aviation history. Set up by
the city-based Hindustan
Aeronautics, this sole
aero museum in the
country offers a glimpse
into the history of flight.
A variety of aviation-
themed displays come
together, from
aircraft/fighter plane
models and a mock
control room to old
photographs and trivia.
The aircraft simulators
are a must-try for flying
enthusiasts. There is a
store attached to the
museum which offers
interesting airplane-
related merchandise. Do
take a walk around the
museum's lawns where
life-sized airplane and
helicopter models are
displayed.
Karnataka Chitrakala
Parishath
Art Complex, Kumara
Krupa Road,
Vasanthanagar, Tel:
2226 1816
The Karnataka Chitrakala
Parishath, a.k.a. CKP, is
one of the city's oldest
and best-known art
complexes. This premier
institute of art and design
is also a vibrant gallery
space hosting art shows
and craft fairs, while also
housing a permanent
gallery. Established up in
1960, the institute has
over the years built an
eclectic collection of
contemporary and
traditional art that is
displayed across five
permanent galleries. The
Svetoslav Roerich gallery
is the most prominent of
these. The Bangalore-
based Russian painter
donated many of his own
art works and some
others from his collection
to CKP. Works of other
prominent Indian artists
are also on display.
Performance art shows as
well as street and puppet
theatre are staples at the
open-air theatre on-
campus. Travelling
handicraft fairs stop by
on a regular basis at the
Parishath.
Bull Temple
Bugle Hill, Bull Temple
Road, Basavanagudi,
Open from 7am to 1pm
and 4pm to 9pm